When was the last time the US budget was balanced?

Asked by: Kendall Douglas  |  Last update: October 8, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

The last time the United States government operated with a balanced budget was in fiscal year 2001. This marked the final year of a four-year streak of budget surpluses (1998–2001) achieved during the administration of President Bill Clinton.

When was the last balanced US budget?

The last time that the budget was balanced or had a surplus was the 2001 United States federal budget, under 42nd President Bill Clinton.

How much has Trump increased the deficit in 2025?

In terms of deficit reduction, the final monthly Treasury statement for FY 2025 (ending in September) showed a deficit of roughly $1.78 trillion, as compared to roughly $1.82 trillion for FY 2024.

When was the last time the US had no debt?

By January of 1835, for the first and only time, all of the government's interest-bearing debt was paid off. Congress distributed the surplus to the states (many of which were heavily in debt). The Jackson administration ended with the country almost completely out of debt!

Did Trump have a surplus in June?

The U.S. Treasury has reported a budget surplus of $27 billion for the month of June—the first time since 2017. This is excellent news for our economy and a signal that President Trump's pro-growth policies are on the right track!

When Was The Last Time The Federal Budget Was Balanced? - CountyOffice.org

22 related questions found

Which president got the national debt to zero?

On January 8, 1835, president Andrew Jackson paid off the entire national debt, the only time in U.S. history that has been accomplished.

How much did Trump's 2017 tax cuts cost?

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated in 2018 that the 2017 law would cost $1.9 trillion over ten years, and recent estimates show that making the law's temporary individual income and estate tax cuts permanent would cost roughly another $4.2 trillion through 2035.

What would happen if Trump tax cuts expire?

If the individual tax cuts expire, taxpayers in all income groups would face higher and more complicated taxes. Machinery and equipment expensing is a key provision that, if allowed to expire, would especially harm capital-intensive industries like manufacturing.

How did President Clinton balance the federal budget?

In proposing a plan to cut the deficit, Clinton submitted a budget and corresponding tax legislation (the final, signed version was known as the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993) that would cut the deficit by $500 billion over five years by reducing $255 billion of spending and raising taxes on the wealthiest ...

Is a surplus better than no deficit?

Keynesian economics theory suggests that entities should run a surplus during times of prosperity and a deficit during a downcycle or depression. This allows the company or government to save money when it is well off and to spend money on economic stimulus when the economy is less well off.

What did Bill Clinton do for America?

Clinton presided over the second longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. He signed into law the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act but failed to pass his plan for national health care reform.

Was the US budget ever balanced?

The U.S. has experienced a fiscal year-end budget surplus four times in the last 50 years, most recently in 2001. When there is no deficit or surplus due to spending and revenue being equal, the budget is considered balanced .

When was the last time we ran a budget surplus?

Yes, in 2001, the budget had the surplus created during Clinton's term.

What percent of Americans are 100% debt free?

Federal Reserve data shows that about 23% of Americans have no debt.

What country is #1 in debt?

1 United States 21,764,799 2 Euro area 18,075,643 3 United Kingdom 9,837,535 4 France 7,368,685 5 Norway 7,110,029 6 Germany 6,6,91,139 7 Japan 4,687,815 8 Netherlands 4,197,719 9 Luxembourg 3,965,300 10 Italy 2,749,75 https://www.ceicdata. com/en/indicator/norway/external-debt--of-nominal- gdp https://www.gfmag.com/ ...

Which president erased the national debt?

Was Andrew Jackson the Only U.S. President to Bring National Debt to Zero? GW Today | The George Washington University.

When has the US never been in debt?

As a result, the U.S. actually did become debt free, for the first and only time, at the beginning of 1835 and stayed that way until 1837. It remains the only time that a major country was without debt.

What did Reagan do to the national debt?

During Reagan's presidency, the federal debt held by the public nearly tripled in nominal terms, from $738 billion to $2.1 trillion. This led to the U.S. moving from the world's largest international creditor to the world's largest debtor nation.

What states have a surplus?

Alaska accumulated the largest 15-year surplus (126.9%), followed by North Dakota (124.6%), Wyoming (120.4%), Utah (113.3%), and New Mexico (110.3%). Montana was the only state to end each of the 15 years examined with a surplus.